KBO Says No To 10th Team After Disagreeing On Potential Location

The Korea Baseball Organization, after several meetings, came to a decision Tuesday that it "will not allow a 10th team in the league at this time," according to Jung Min-ho of the KOREA TIMES. At a BOD meeting at the KBO headquarters in Seoul, a total of 10 members -- the nine club owners and Commissioner Koo Bon-neung -- decided against the addition, saying that a "lack of quality players could lower the overall quality of the league," since currently there are only 53 high school teams. KBO also said that it will "try to seek ways to minimize potential issues from operating the league with an odd number of teams," such as fewer matches and more rest days (KOREA TIMES, 6/19). In Seoul, Chun Sung-woo noted the decision "sparked strong opposition from players." The Korea Professional Baseball Players Association in a statement said, "As we forewarned, we will take actions. We will boycott the All-Star Game and the World Baseball Classic, and also seek to form the players’ union in an effort to stand up against current teams’ egoism." Suwon City sports promotion team official Baek Woon-ho said, "We regret the decision. It was very embarrassing. The KBO has made an ill-informed decision" (KOREA HERALD, 6/19).